Convertible wall bleacher



R. G. HOWARD CONVERTIBLE WALL BLEACHER June 14, 1932.

2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 26; 1929' INVENTOR 7M 1. film/ A.

@ mm c m M Patented June 14, 1932 r'rENr RUSSELL G. HOWARD, F DU BOIS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 RUSSELL G, HQ'WARD Tf & ASSOCIATES, INC., A CORPORATION OF FENNSYLVANIA CONVERTIBLE WALL BLEACHEB Application filed February 26, 1929. Serial No. 342,782.

This invention relates to buildings and more particularly to buildings which house gymnasiums, swimming pools or the like where a tier or stand of seats is occasionally needed but where space requirements or other considerations prevent any permanent installations being ma e.

An object of this invention is to provide a construction of the type set forth so arranged as to form an ordinary partition or a tier 0 seats as may be desired.

A further object is to provide an arrangement of the type set forth which will be simple in construction, practical in operation and cheap to manufacture.

These and other Objects which will be apparent to those skilled in this particle art are accomplished by means of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view in end elevation of one embodiment of this invention and Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified form thereof.

The particular embodiment of this invention which has been chosen for the purposes of illustration is shown in connection with a building having a floor 5 on which is movably supported a suitable framework 6. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the framework is hinged to the fioor by suitable hinges 7 or the like and is movable into the upright position indicated in dotted lines or the inclined position indicated in full lines. The framework is provided with a plurality of seats 8 of any type such, for example, as the bleacher seats shown, and the back of the framework is preferably finished off with a partition 9 of any desired material which is adapted to form a wall or partition when the frame is in its upright position.

A catch or support 10 is secured to the ceiling 11 or in any other desired place for holding the framework in upright position and a bracket 12 secured to an adjacent wall 13 or other support, is provided for the purpose of supporting the framework and seats when the latter are in use. Movement of the framework from one position to another is facilitated by a suitable counter weight 14 and associated spring 15 which are connected to the 50 framework but located below the floor 5.

The particular embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated in Fig. 2 has oppositely disposed seats 16 mounted on opposite sides of the framework 6. work is pivoted at 17 to the floor nected by rods 18 to a gear and segment mechanism 19 for moving the framework to one position or the other for providing a tier of seats facing in either direction.

It will be apparent that the construction of a wall or partition so as to render the same movable from its operative inclined position to a normally inoperative position and the provision with such a partition of a tier of seats provides an arrangement wherein such g a tier of seats is available as and when desired, but which takes up no more space than a thick wall when not in use.

In the particular arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the partition of a corridor 21 when the seats are not in use. The opposite wall of the corridor is provided with the supports 12 for supporting the seats when in use and facing an associated room 22.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 a framework and seats will form a partition 23 between separate rooms 24 and 25, respectively, when in upright position and it can be swung to either side to bring either set of seats 16 into operative position. Removable posts 26 can be placed in position for supporting the framework and seats when inclined in either direction, the posts being located in the room not being used and not faced by the seats. 7

Support rods 27 may, of course, be hung from the ceiling in place of the post 26, if desired. It will also be apparent that the move- The frame- 5 and con- @Q 9 forms one side or wall I) ment of the seats from operative to inoperabe mechanibe of such size as the comparatively easy movement thereof from one position to another.

formed in as many relatively lVhat I claim as new and by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a movable partition supported near its bottom and adapted sc to be swung about said support into and out 19 of operative position, of a framework adapted to form a tier of seats when said partition is in inoperative position.

2. The combination with a partition supported near its bottom and adapted to be swung about said support into and out of operative position, of a framework adapted to form a tier of seats when said partition is in inoperative position and means for swinging said partition from one position to another.

3. The combination of a partition wall movable from vertical to inclined position about a pivot point adjacent the bottom thereof, means for moving said wall from one position to another and seats secured to said wall for use when said wall is in inclined position.

a. The combination of a swinging frame adapted to be located in upright position to form a partition or to be moved to inclined position and a plurality of seats supported on said frame for use when said frame is in inclined position.

5. A wall or the like adapted to be moved into inoperative inclined position, means for supporting said wall. when so positioned and seats formed on said wall for use When said wall is in inclined position.

6. A building constructionincluding a partition, means for hinging said partition to a support to permit its movement from upright to inclined position, means for supporting said wall in either position, a plurality of seats supported on said wall for use when in inclined position and a counter balance associated with. said wall for facilitating move ment thereof.

7. A seating structure comprising a framework having a series of seats arranged in step-by-step relation, and means pivotally supporting said framework near to its bottom, said framework when turned on its sup-- port to vertical position forming a partition or wall and when turned to inclined position forming a seating structure or grandstand.

8. A vertical wall or partition having a series of seats arranged in step by step rela tion, and means for inclining said wall so as to form a seating structure or grandstand.

9. A vertical Wall or partition having a series of seats arranged thereon in step by step relation, and means for supporting said wall so that the same may be inclined to form a seating structure or grandstand.

10. A vertical wall or partition having a series of seats formed thereon in step by step relation, means for supporting said Wall so that the same may be moved into inclined ,position to form a seating structure and desire to secure means for supporting chned position.

said Wall in its in- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sub- "lbed my name this 21 day of February,

RUSSELL G. HOXVARD. 

